Watford striker Uche Ikpeazu was sent off for diving in Port Vale’s 2-0 defeat to Burton Albion, a decision Valiants boss Rob Page felt was unjust.

The 20-year-old is spending the campaign on loan at Vale Park and has impressed in League One after netting six times this season.

However, he was dismissed just 26 minutes into their weekend defeat. Ikpeazu had been booked earlier in the half after catching Robbie Weir with an arm in the face as they challenged each other for the ball.

He was then given his marching orders minutes later after falling in the penalty area under minimal contact.

But former Hornet Page felt both cautions were harsh on the powerful striker.

He told the Stoke Sentinel: "The first booking is a little bit harsh, he never takes his eye off the ball. He jumps and I don't know anyone who can jump without using their arms as leverage. So the first one was a little bit harsh.

"I am not saying there wasn't contact, he (Weir) has a cracking bruise on his eye. But football is a contact sport.

"You have to work out whether it is intentional or not, and he doesn't take his eye off the ball when he jumps for it.

"For the second booking, there is contact, whether he (Ikpeazu) runs into the lad and falls over. But as soon as he hits the ground he bounced straight back up to try to get after it.

"If you dive for a penalty you stay on the ground and look at the referee. There was none of that.

"Yes he had contact with the defender and he has gone over but as soon as he hit the ground he bounced back up."

In the Championship, Diego Fabbrini’s second half goal proved the catalyst for Middlesbrough to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1.

Boro trialled at the half time interval but the tricky Italian fired home from 20 yards after the restart to level the contest.

Aitor Karanka’s side went on to win the game 3-1 thanks to goals from Grant Leadbitter and Stewart Downing.

Matej Vydra made his first start in over a month for Reading but couldn’t help the Royals avoid a heavy 4-2 defeat at Fulham.

The Czech Republic international, who has only recently returned from injury, teed up Lucas Piazon’s opener and Reading then doubled their lead through Orlando Sa.

But Fulham hit back and four second half goals ensured they claimed an unlikely victory.

Daniel Pudil started and completed Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Rotherham United on Saturday.

Former Hornet Fernando Forestieri also began the game for the Owls and went on to score the opening goal of the victory.

Gabriele Angella wasn’t included in the Queens Park Rangers’ match-day squad as a foot injury ruled him out of the R’s 3-0 victory over MK Dons.

Sean Murray was again omitted from the Wigan Athletic match-day squad on Saturday. The Latics went on to draw 1-1 with Bradford City.

Further afield, Miguel Layun helped Porto to a 0-0 draw against Braga in the Primeira Liga while Juanfran played 73 minutes as Deportivo La Coruna went down 2-0 against Malaga in La Liga.